In sport, a club crest is the term used to describe a

logo A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name that it represents, as in ...

used by a

sports club A sports club or sporting club, sometimes an athletics club or sports society or sports association, is a group of people formed for the purpose of playing sports. Sports clubs range from organisations whose members play together, unpaid, and ...

. Such a logo is also often termed a badge. The logos of many clubs are inspired by

heraldic Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branc ...

design. In Association football, club crests did not always hold their current importance. In the case of

Aston Villa Football Club Aston Villa Football Club (commonly referred to as simply Villa) is a professional Association football, football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club, founded in 1874, compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English foot ...

, while the rampant lion was associated with the club from near its inception in 1874, the earliest known crest, the

Lion Rampant The lion is a common charge in heraldry. It traditionally symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour, because historically the lion has been regarded as the "king of beasts". The lion also carries Judeo-Christi ...

To dexter In heraldry, the term attitude describes the ''position'' in which a figure (animal or human) is emblazoned as a charge, a supporter, or as a crest. The attitude of a heraldic figure always precedes any reference to the tincture of the figure an ...

(''facing left'') on a shield with motto "

Prepared The Scout Motto of the Scout movement is, in English, "Be Prepared", with most international branches of the group using a close translation of that phrase. These mottoes have been used by millions of Scouts around the world since 1907. Most of t ...

", was first documented in the club program of 1st September 1906. The use of the term ''crest'' to describe a logo derives from the misconception that a crest refers to any emblem that is heraldic. In heraldry, a crest specifically refers to the element of a

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

which appears above a helmet. Due to the heraldic design of many club logos, they are sometimes regulated in regions with

heraldic authorities A heraldic authority is defined as an office or institution which has been established by a reigning monarch or a government to deal with heraldry in the country concerned. It does not include private Heraldry societies, societies or enterprises w ...

. In Scotland, some club logos have been deemed "an heraldic device" by the

Court of the Lord Lyon The Court of the Lord Lyon, or Lyon Court, is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All ...

. Because heraldic devices must be authorised by this court, some clubs have been required to change their logos to designs which are not heraldic. Alternatively, a club may apply to have its logo authorised by the Court of the Lord Lyon. Similarly, the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...

has regulated club logos, with at least 25 football clubs in England and Wales having designs authorised by the college. In those cases, the

English Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...

was granted

heraldic badges Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch ...

, which were subsequently licensed to the appropriate clubs.

References

Logos Sports symbols Sports terminology {{sport-stub

See also

References